Friends of the Earth International
Media Advisory
Immediate: Friday 2nd December 2005
CLIMATE TALKS - SLOW START BUT REAL
PROGRESS CAN STILL BE MADE
As the UN Climate Change Talks in Montreal
reach the half way point, Friends of the
Earth International urged developed
countries, particularly the EU and the
Canadian Presidency, to take a stronger lead
in pushing for real progress in the days to
come.
What’s happened so far
On Wednesday there was an significant step
forward when the Climate Talks adopted the
rule book for the Kyoto Protocol - known as
the Marrakesh Accords. But Saudi Arabia
rained on the Kyoto parade by demanding an
amendment on the issue of compliance.
Compliance is an essential part of the rule
book. A group has been set up to look at the
problem and everybody seems very confident
that this one is going to be sorted out.
Discussions on the crucial issue of what
developed countries will do in the post 2012
period have also got underway. A lot of ideas
have been put on the table, including
suggestions from developing countries as to
what their role will be. But a key question
hangs over this part of the negotiations as
to which future action will be regulated by
the Kyoto Protocol - and which will fall
under the legal framework of the UN Framework
Convention. The EU says it wants an open and
inclusive dialogue - but has not yet offered
sufficient incentives to developing countries
on adaptation or reform of the “clean
development mechanism”(CDM) - where developed
countries invest in emissions reduction
projects in the developing world.
Sticking points
The United States delegation, which is not
party to the Kyoto Protocol, but which is
still a participant in the UN Framework
Convention discussions, made it very clear
from day one of the talks that it was not
interested in joining in. They want to see no
progress in Montreal, under either Protocol
or Convention, except for “a plan of action”
for assisting developing countries adapt to
climate change - ensuring no new money and no
real action.
Some other countries also seem to have
forgotten why they are in Montreal. The
United States, Japan and Russia seem to think
they need as much help in adapting to impacts
of climate change as the world’s poorest
countries, requesting access to the financial
adaptation fund, which was set up to assist
the least developed countries which are
suffering the consequences but which are not
responsible for the problem.
Outside the conference centre
As delegates inside the conference centre
celebrated the adoption of the Marrakesh
Accords, Friends of the Earth International
launched its Climate Mosaic - a 50 metre
display of handpainted tiles demanding action
on climate change. Painted by people from
around the world, the Mosaic will send daily
messages to delegates inside the talks -
reminding them that climate change is an
issue for the people they represent and that
their negotiations potentially affect the
lives and livelihoods of millions of people
around the world.
Friends of the Earth International will
also be joining the climate march on 3
December in Montreal when thousands of people
are expected to take to the streets. The
march is expected to be the largest ever
climate specific public demonstration with
activities in more than 30 cities around the
world.
Things to look forward to
Negotiations will step up a gear on
Wednesday 7th December when Ministers arrive
from around the world to agree the final
package of negotiations. As things stand,
there remains a lot still to be picked up and
finalised.
Key will a mandate to negotiate future
action with clear targets and a deadline for
an agreement to be in place. This is what
Ministers arriving next week must do.
Friends of the Earth International Climate
Campaigner Catherine Pearce said:
“There is a real need for leadership in
these talks. The first week of negotiations
has seen a great deal of attention focused on
opening up discussions under the Convention,
and opening the door to USA. But the US
Administration has made it blatantly clear
that they are not interested in action and
there is a real risk that they will use these
talks to block proposals from other
countries.
“It is time for the key players, including
the EU and President Dion to show real
leadership and move this agenda on. We
urgently need agreement on action to bring
greenhouse gas emissions down - and a clear
timeline for future negotiations is key.
Industrialised countries must be willing to
make further cuts and they must provide
incentives for developing countries to come
on board.”
Background information:
www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/montrealclimatetalks.pdf
UNFCCC Climate Change Conference Official
Site:
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php
Download Photos of Friends of the Earth
International’s Climate Mosaic in
Montreal:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/images/cop11_montreal
Contact:
Catherine Pearce, Friends of the Earth
International Climate Campaigner + 1 347 992
2505
Helen Burley, Friends of the Earth Media
Officer Canadian mobile +1 201 954 5317
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